BEIJING: China’s power sector has implemented a wide range of measures to tackle soaring temperatures and surging electricity demand as a result of this summer’s intense heatwave.
High temperatures pose a serious risk to both power equipment and workers. Wang Lei, deputy director of the operation department at the Liujiaxia Hydropower Station in Gansu province, said the most immediate impact is increased thermal stress on power transmission and transformation systems, which jeopardizes their operational safety and reliability.
Wang added that heat waves also exacerbated equipment failures, requiring faster response times from maintenance crews.
“Yet the harsh working conditions during heat waves impair human efficiency, creating a dual challenge of strained infrastructure and reduced workforce effectiveness,” he said. In addition to equipment stress, electricity demand surges during high temperatures — particularly from air conditioning use. Persistent high temperatures have also worsened drought conditions, pushing up demand for water and electricity for crop irrigation and significantly increasing the overall power load, Wang said.
According to data from the National Energy Administration, the country’s maximum power load reached 1.465 billion kilowatts on July 4 — up about 200 million kW from the end of June and nearly 150 million kW higher than the same period last year, setting a new record. To meet this rising demand, the power industry is using a combination of advanced technology and expanded generation to secure energy supplies.
“At Liujiaxia Hydropower Station, smart patrol and inspection systems use AI to monitor the operational trends of equipment. If any fault signals are detected, immediate intervention can be carried out to minimize system failures,” Wang said.
The AI system also helps optimize power grid interconnection to improve load distribution and reduce system risks. By running large-scale simulations and predictive modeling, it can signal the ideal timing for switching between grid configurations to enhance operational stability and prevent failures, he said. –The Daily Mail-China Daily news exchange item
